Nurses rely on technology to provide good patient care. But technology doesn’t always come in a package that meets nurses’ needs. If the technology isn’t easy to use, efficient to store, and appealing to the eye, then the nurse’s effectiveness, and even the care given, might be compromised. Rioux Vision’s computer technology had won the hearts of nurses, but the embodiment of the technology had not. Rioux Vision had heard of BOLTGROUP’s success in medical product design and development and asked us to help innovate their new product.

We work with companies of all sizes. Rioux Vision was a small company with a lean staff. Therefore, it made sense for BOLTGROUP to take on not only industrial design and mechanical engineering, but also sourcing and qualification of manufacturing vendors, as well as assistance with initial production.

Every detail was considered in the product design—from the size of the footprint (smallest in the industry for easy storage), to the prominent HIPAA button (used to quickly blank the screen for confidentiality), to the shape and feel of the handle.

The resulting medical cart design gives nurses a wireless display for data, a work surface for charts, a hidden keyboard tray (first of its kind), and storage rings for convenient options like hand sanitizer bottles and bar code scanners. Battery powered height adjustment ensures that users of a variety of heights will be accommodated. And hospitals love the flexibility of snap-on medication drawers. Other results include:

• Orders for product outpaced manufacturer’s production capability
• Increased market share 15% within first 3 months of production
• Provided client with a 35% increase in market penetration
• Overall sales increased 40% after introduction
• Successful sale of company for $26 million